Berklee Promotes Panos Panay to VP for Innovation and Strategy

Panos A. Panay has been named vice president for innovation and strategy at the Berklee College of Music. Longtime Hypebot readers will remember Panay as the pioneering music tech entrepreneur that founded Sonicbids.

In his new role as vice president for innovation and strategy at the Berklee College of Music, Panos Panay will spearhead initiatives and strategies to prepare music, dance, and theater graduates for a tech-oriented future.

Panay, a Berklee grad who founded Sonicbids, will remain the director of Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship. He will also continue to lead the Open Music Initiative, launched last year in collaboration with more than 190 entities to create and open protocol for identifying and compensating creators.

Since we started BerkleeICE in 2013, we've worked tirelessly to develop curriculum and programs that will arm graduates with the skills they need to succeed within the new music industry," said Panay.

Panay will now work across all Berklee divisions, departments, and campuses to develop and implement new programs. Additionally, he will build career and entrepreneurial capacity for Berklee students, preparing graduates to be professionals at the forefront of creativity, technology, and business

In order to continue to attract the most talented, creative, and motivated students in the world, we must adapt our offerings so students have the best possible chance to succeed as professionals in a variety of careers," said Berklee President Roger H. Brown. Technology has disrupted the music and creative industries, and Panos's aptitude for identifying and harnessing innovation through his work as an entrepreneur, the head of BerkleeICE, and cofounder of the Open Music Initiative is second to none."

At this time in my life, I'm finally able to express myself through jazz as I have always wanted by becoming fully immersed in the music and lyrics. I love performing American Jazz
Standards and surrounding myself with world class musicians

At this time in my life, I'm finally able to express myself through jazz as I have always wanted by becoming fully immersed in the music and lyrics. I love performing American Jazz
Standards and surrounding myself with world class musicians. There is no other feeling as fulfilling as performing jazz.